Process of cracking hydrocarbon oils



` March 22, 1932. c P. DUBBs -PROCESS OF CRACK/ING HYDROCARBON OILS 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Dec. 12, 1918 March 22, 1932. C. Pf DUBB PROCESS oF CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS Filed Dec, l2, 1918 4 SheeiS-Sheet 2 WAM@ amig

March .22, 1932. Q P, DUBBS l 1,850,261

PROCESS OF" GRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS Filed Deo. l2, 1918 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 22, 1932.

c. P. DUBBS '1,850,261

PROCESS OF CRAGKING' HYDROCAIRBON OILS Filed Dec. l27 1918 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 i CARBON P. DUBBS,0F WILMETTE, ILLINOIS, COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A

' ent objects,

Patented Mar. 22, 1932 UNITED sTATEs'f PATENT ori-ICE Y ASSIGN OR TO UNIVERSAL OIL PRODUCTS CORPORATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA PROCESS OF CRACKING HYDROCARIBON'OILS Application led D eeember 12, 1918. Serial 110.266.396.

the feed pipe to onev end of the coil This invention relates to a process of cracking hydrocarbon oils and has among its sali.- to provide an improved process in which the vapors Vwhich pass off from the vapor chambers are subjected to the action of a redux condenser and the condensed portionsy thereof returned to the system at a point remote from the vapor zone; to provide a process of the character above referred to in which the condensate from the reflux condensers is returned to or near a point where the oil to be treated enters the system and at a relativelycool part of the system to provide a process ofthe character above referred to in which the oil is subjected to the pressure of the generated vapors during treatment; to provide a process adapted for continuous operation as distinct-from batch operation; and in general to provide improvements of the character referred to.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 and 1A together, form a side elevation of the apparatus with parts shown in section.

Figs. 2 and 2A together, form a plan view with parts shown in section and other parts broken away. i

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the furnace provided with bridge wall 2, flue 34 and stack 4. TheA furnace may be separated g into two compartments by means of dividing wall 5. Vithin the furnacevchambers are mounted two sets of tubes Gand 7 mounted on suitable supports 8. The tubes 6 are relatively smaller than the tubes 7. The tubes 6 may be from an inch in diameter to six inches and the tubes 7 from 8 inches to 20 inches in diameter although it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to a tube of any particular size nor to the number or length of the tubes. These must vary as conditions require and will be apparent to one skilled in the art. The ends of the tubes are provided with cap members 9 which can be removed to permit the ends of the tubes being opened and the tubes cleaned. Instead of removing the caps 9'they may be provided with suitable doors -o r closure members (not shown). The oil to be treated is fed by means of a pump (not shown) from any source.of supply through ythrough upright pipe which is connected at its lower end to manifold 16 leading from adjacent ends of the large tubes of the coils 7. At its upper end, the pipe 15 is connected to a horizontal cross pipe 17 from either end of which lead downwardly extending vapor lines 18 and 19. In a generally similar manner, the other end of the large coil 7 is connected to riser 20, the upper end of which is connected to horizontal branch pipe 21 which is provided with a pair of downwardly extending vapor lines 22 and 23. The downwardly inclined vapor lines 18, 22, 23 and 19 are connected to tank 24. This tank 24 connects with an aerial \condenser 25 provided with a series of upright pipes 26. The upper end of the aerial condenser is connected by pipes 27 and 28 to a water condenser 29. The water condenser 29 is connected by the pipe 30 to a receiving tank 31. The condensed vapors are drawn oif through pipe 32 controlled by throttle valve 33. The gas escape pipe 34 is also provided with throttle valve 35. The receiving tank is provided with pressure gauge 36, liqui'd level glass 37 and safety valve 38.

As a novel feature of the process and apparatus the vapors which are condensed in the lines 18, 22, 23 and 19 and in the aerial,

pipe l0 may be l are collected in the tank 24. The condensed l vaporsvfrdn the tank 24, which tankserves in effect as a stabilizer, are drawn out from the end of the tank from pipe 39 to pipe 40. From pipe 40 the condensed vapors are delivered to pipe 4l to the small coil 6 as shown at 42. These condensed vapors can either pass by gravity to the coil or can beforced in by means of a pump 43. This pump is interposed in the line 40 by branches 44 and 45 controlled by valves 46and 47. A valve 48 is interposed in the line 40. `When the valves 46 and 47 are closed, the .pump is not used in which case the valve 48 is open. If it is' desired, to use the pump, the valve 48 is closed i larger coil vthey are and the valves 46 drawn od from the larger coil through the draw od lines 52 and 53 controlled y the valve 54. Gas or fuel oil for the burners are fed through lines 49 to pipes 50 and 5l which su ly the burners (not shown?. 0

e process is operated as fol ows: the oil is fed into the small coil continuously at desired rate and is there subjected to heat. The oil as it passes through the smaller coil may vbe said in effect to pass through the heating The oil then passes to the or vapor zone. The undistilled portion of the oil is drawn od throu h the draw oil lines to a residuum tank. e. vapors pass through the downwardly inclined vapor lines to the tank 24. The heavier vapors will condense either in the downwardly inclined lines in the tank or in the laerial and will be drawn from the tank by gravity or by means of the pump, back to the inlet side o the small coil. The advantage of this method of treating the heavy condensed vapors is that they are continuously being returned to the heating zone but inasmuch as not permitted to fall back into the vapor zone as is the usual process, they do not tend to unduly cool the vapors in the vapor zone. This method of handling the heavy condensed vapors not only greatly lowers the fuel cost but results in a better operation. By controllingthe temperature of the tank 24 and the vapor lines, anything below the given boiling or end point can be prevented from passing to the water condenser. number or area of the vapor lines or by applying a cooling member not shown to the tank 24. -The oil is maintained under pressure during distillation and condensation by regulating the distillate and gas valves of the receiver tank. The pressure may be maintained from 50 to several hundred pounds and the temperature from 500 F. upwardly. The following illustrative run may Ibe given: In cracking `gas oil from the Kansas or Oklahoma fields, oi? from 32 to 34 Baume, at the saine time maintaining a pressure of 100 to 150 lbsupon the system a ield of from 50% to 60% distillate may be o tained. By re-distillation about 50% distillate may be obtained therefrom, having a boiling point of approximately 400 F.

' By the terms, mechanical, imposed, applied or forced pressure, as used in the claims or cracking zone.

in describing a returnl dow of redux oil to the heating coil, orthe return dow of a lmixture of redux oil and charging stock,

that the redux oil or the mixed redux oil and it is meant charging stock in eitherinstance is positively forced to the coil by being first compelled to be subjected to the action of a mechanical pressure applying element before admission to the heating coil, and these terms do not cover a process where a stream of redux oil and. 47 opened. The oil is drawninto said rapidly This can be controlled either by thev dows from a redux condenser under a head or ravity pressure to a stream of charging stoc dowing under a mechanical pressure to the coil, and which redux oil is assisted in its merger with the chargin stock by being owing stream of charging stock by reason ofsuction orl en# trainment, or both, due to the velocity of said stream .at the point the redux oil merges therewith while under a gravity pressure.

I claim as my invention:

1. A process of converting heavy into lighter hydrocarbons, consisting in passing a stream of oil through yan elongated heated passageway to be heated to a cracking tem perature by passing therethrough, in delivering the heated oil to an enlarged zone where substantial vaporization occurs, in discharging vapors to a dephlegmator where the insuiciently cracked vapors are condensed, in introducing a-charging stock to said elongated heated passageway consisting of redux condensate from said dephlegmator and charging stock iroma source of supply'produced by advancing the redux .condensate and charging stock toward one another in separately moving streams each under a mechanical pressure, in merging said separately moving streams of oil while each is advancing under pressure to permit intermingling thereof and passage through said elongated passageway, in removing residue from said Venlarged zone without permitting interminheate to a cracking temperature, in delivering the heated oil 'to an enlarged zone where vaporization occurs, in passing vapors from said zone to a redux condenser where the insudiciently cracked vapors are condensed, and in continuously charging said heating coil with redux condensate from said redux condenser andcharging stock by feeding said redux condensate and charging stock in separate continuously moving streams each under a mechanical pressure, in merging said independent streams while under pressure, and passing the mixedoils through said coil, in withdrawing residue from said enlar ed zone without admitting the same to sai heating coil, and in maintaining a superatmospheric pressure on the oil in said sys-l tem.

3. A process for treating hydrocarbon oil, consisting' in raising the oil to a cracking temperature while passing through a continuous elongated passageway disposed .within a heating furnace, in delivering the heated oil to a second @one where vaporization occurs, in discharging ,vapors from said second zone to a reflux condenser where the l g insuliiciently cracked vapors are condensed,

' in advancing thereiuxcondensate from -said mechanical pressure,

reflux condenser and .from a source of supply in separate streams each under a pump pressure, in merging vsaid separately movin each stream is a vancing under pressure to cause interminglin passage. through said elongated passageway,

. in withdrawing continuously residual oil vfrom said vaporizing, zone without again admitting said oil to Asaid elongated passage- Way, and in maintaining a superatmospheric pressure on the oil undergoing treatment.

4. A process for converting heavy into lighter hydrocarbons, consisting in passing in an advancing direction a stream of oil through a heating coil where said oil is subjected to a cracking temperature, in delivering the heated oil to an enlarged zone where vaporization occurs, in passing vapors from said zone to a reiux condenser where the in- I each, stream is advancing under a pressure for passage through said heating coil, in withdrawing residuum from saidV expansion zone. without admitting any-portion'thereof Ato the heating coil, and: in maintaining a superatmospheric pressure on said system.

, lighter hydrocarbons, `Astreamof oil throug for converting heavy into consisting in passing a h a heating coil to be 5. A process subjected to a craclnng temperature, in delivering the heated hydrocarbon oil to an enlarged zone where conversion occurs, 1n

preventing a return of residual oil from said. enlarged zone to said coil, in passing generated vapors to a reflux condenser where the insufficiently cracked vapors are condensed, in advancing reflux condensate from said condenser, and a stream of charging stockl from a source of supply, in separately moving bodies each under a mechanical pressure,

' Awhile each i's advanced under a said oil is subjected an enlarged in introducing said separately moving bodies pressure to said heating coil for passage therethrough, and in maintaining a superatmospheric presure onl the oil undergoing conversion in said -coil and said enlarged zone.

6. A process' lfor converting heavy into lighter hydrocarbons, consisting in passing a stream of oil'through a heating coil where tol a cracking temperahighly heated oil to ture, Vin delivering the raw charging stock'` streams of oil at the time thereof and subsequent' through continuously withdrawing residuum from oil in said coil andin said en zone where conversion of the oil '.occurs, in passing va ors generated from the converted oil to a re u x condenser where the insuiciently cracked vapors are condensed, in advancing the reflux condensate from said of supply inseparately moving bodies each under an imposed mechanical pressure, in

. condenser and' charging stock from a source 7 merging said separately moving, bodies forl v passage in an intermingled condition said heating coil, in substantially said enlarged zone without again admitting the same to the heating coil, and in maintaining a 4superatmospheric pressure on the arged zone.

7. A process for converting heavy into lighter hydrocarbons, consisting in passing a stream of oil through a', heating coil where said.y oil is subjected to a cracking temperature, in delivering the highly heated oil to an enlarged zone Where conversion ofthe oil occurs, in passing vapors generated from `the converted oil to a reuxcondenser Where the insuiiciently cracked vapors are condensed, in advancing the reiiux condensate from said condenser and charging stock from a source of supply in separately moving bodies each under an imposed mechanical pressure, in merging said separately moving passage .in .an intermingled condition through said heating coil, in substantially continuously ,withdrawing residuum from said enlarged zone without again 'admitting the same to the heating coil, and in vmailitaining a superatmospheric pressure on the .oil in said coil and in said enlarged zone and on the vapors while` passing through said reflux condenser.

bodies for' 8. A process of converting heavy into l lighter hydrocarbons consisting in passing oil under pump pressure through a coil in a heating zone, in delivering the heated oil to an enlarged chamber where vaporization occurs, in Vremoving vapors and passing Vthem through a reflux condenser, in collecting an accumulated lbody o-relux condensate maintained in advance of the entrance to an indendent feeding pump, in continuousl forcing condensate from said body hy` sai independent pum to the advancing stream of chargingstoc passing to said heating coil, in removing residue after said vaporization from the s stem without permitting inter- 'mingling-o any substantial portion thereof A12o with the oil in the heating coil, and in maintaini'n a superatmospheric pressure on the oil un ergoing treatment.

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' 9. A process of converting heavy into lighter hydrocarbons, consisting in passing a stream of oil throu h an elon ated passageway to be subjecte toa cracing temperature, in delivering the heated oil to an enlar ed zone where substantial vaporization occurs, in dischar i vaporsto a de hlegmator where the ciently cracked vapors I are'condensed, in collecting the condensate in an oil body, in introducing .reflux condensate from said collected body and charging stock from a source of supply to the elongated passagewa by`advanc1ng the reux conden sate and c urging stock toward one another in separately moving streams each under a mechanical pressure, in mer 'n said streams for passage in anV intermmg ed, lcondition through the elongated assageway, in removing residue Vfrom sai out permitting intermingling thereof with the oil in said elongated heated passageway, and in maintaining a superatmospherlc pressure on the oil in said system.

10. A continuous process for cracking hydrocarbons consisting inpassing the same 1n anadyanci'ng direction in a stream through a heating coll to be subjected to a cracking temperature, in transferring the oil to a reaction zone where vaporizatlon of a substantial portion thereof occurs, taking off the vapors and subjecting them to a reflux condensing action, inpassing reflux condensate and charging stock 1n streams, each moving under separately applied mechanical pressure and uniting sald streams for admission to the inlet side of said coil, in withdrawing residue from said reaction zone without permitting intermingling of any portion thereof Wlth the oil enterlng the heating coil, and in maintaining a superatmospheric pressure in said system.

CARBON P. DUBBS.

enlarged zone with-` 

